Gathering to be held in Slatington Saturday

They'll amass at the Slate Heritage Trail by the droves for a day of spontaneity.

Back by popular demand, The Gathering will be held starting at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Trout Run Covered Bridge, 7th St., Slatington, rain or shine.

Parking will be available at the Bob Labold Maintenance Building, at W. Church St. There will be no parking at the covered bridge, or on 7th St.

Sponsored by the Northern Lehigh Historical Society, the ninth annual event is a community festival that brings the community together for fun, food, prizes and celebration.

Area food vendors, as well as local area craftsmen, are located at the hub of the festival, as is the Northern Lehigh Historical Society information tent, where sweatshirts and T-shirts will be available for purchase, along with purchase tickets for the 50/50 drawing.

The permanent stage, built from 1.5 ton boulders from the General Morgan Bridge, will host live music throughout the day.

At the Trout Run Covered Bridge, there will be baskets donated by local businesses and community members, to be raffled off. The bridge also serves as a great place to view the finish-line for the Great Slatington Duck Race, which will be held at 4 p.m.

From there, patrons will enter the Bier Garten - complete with a newly constructed pavilion - where they will find a variety of beverages on tap, as well as frozen drinks, food and several games of chance.

The evening closes out with a spectacular fireworks display at 9:30 p.m., followed by a return to the Bier Garten, where there will be more music and a nice, warm, bonfire.

Ted Kistler, treasurer of the NLHS, said the event is the organization's primary fundraiser, and added that the bulk of work it does is related to the construction of the Slate Heritage Trail.

"We tag ourselves as a community festival," Kistler said. "It's a gathering of friends and neighbors, and people passing through area, looking for food, drinks, crafters, and vendors."

The NLHS maintains the Slate Heritage Trail, a 3.3-mil scenic rail-trail located in the borough that runs along streams, slate beds, and wooded areas.